Typewriting machine



' W. F. .HELMOND TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Dec. 29, 1922 s sheets-sheet1 7 h 7 2 m WW M y Feb. 9,1926. 1,572,139

W. F. HELMOND TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Dec. 29, 1922 3 Sheets-Sh et 2e/naljx W1 4% by (I? a.

' Alfarfley Patented Feb. I 9, i926.

outrun stares 1,522,139 ersar "QFFICYE.

WILLIAM F. IH'EIJMOND, OF .I-IABTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TOUNDERWOOD 'IIEPEWRITER-COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.',-A. CORPORATION OFDELAWARE.

TYPEVJRITING MACHINE.

I Application filed December 29, 1922. Serial NoJGOSjGQ.

To all who??? it may concern:

Be it known that I. Vnaaaar F, l-Inrmonn,

a citizen of the United States, residing in Hartford, in the county ofHartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new. and usefulImprovements in Typewrit .ing Machines, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to continuous billing mechanism for type writingmachines, and is illustrated in connection with a bookkeeping machine ofthe Underwood-Hanson type. Certain features of the invention are notlimited tobookkeepingmachines, however, but are applicable to continuousbilling machines in general, in which printed forms are usually repeatedalong each ply of a multiple-ply web, to be torn off one by one whentyped, the web being usually of the fan-fold type.

WVhen fan-fold mechanism or the like is applied to abookke-eping machineof the type referred to, the webs must be guided above the usualhousings of the sets of denominational jacks, which makes it diflicultsufficiently to straighten the webs as they extend under the raisedplaten, to permit the carbons to be freely d 'a vn back by the usualcarbon-carriage. In accordance with one feature of the presentinvention, provision is made of means for swinging the displace-ableplaten to an elevated position about an axis more remote from the platenthan the axis of the platen-driving pinion about which the platen hasbeen swung in previous machines. This enables the platen to be raised toa greater height, and hence the webs maybe straightened out, even thoughthey are arranged at a high elevation above the adding mechanism at therear of the machine. One of the features is the disengagement of theplaten-gears from the platendriving pinions when the platen is soelevated. Provision is made for re-engageinent of the gears and pinionswhen the platen is again lowered,'the gears being arranged to swingeasily into mesh with the pinions, and all being provided withsharp-pointed teeth, to avoid clashing.

The rear frame-extension of the usual continuous billing machine forsupporting the rear carriage-extension adds considerably to the bulk ofthe machine, making it of an inconvenient shape to store or ship.

This is emphasized in the case of a bookkeeping machine. A feature ofthe invention-is the irovision of a rearwardly-extending b'acket, forsupporting the rear carriage extension, pivoted at its lower end to thesupporting stand of the machine, and

capable of being swung downout of the way when-not in use.

It hasbceu found that the momentum of the rear carriage-extensionortable, intabuswinging movement referred to.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of an improved form ofguide for the work-webs.

While the foregoing provision is made for giving the platen an elevationmuch higherthan heretofore practiced,for permitting thestraightened Websto clear the addmg mechanism, still the improvements may also be usedwithoutchange in a simple typewriting machine, whereby one set ofattachments may answer for either machine, thus conducing to economy ofmanufacture and handling.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

Y In the accompanying drawings,

Figure lis a sectional side elevation of a portion ot a bookkeepingmachine having the present improvements applied thereto.

Figure :2 is a side elevation, on a larger scale than Figure 1, of themeans for guiding the rear carriage-extension and limiting the swingingmovement thereof.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the parts shown in Figure 2, with thecarriage-extension omitted.

Figure i is a plan view of the carriage and carriage-extension of themachine.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevation, showing the supporting frame,with the carriage-extension-supporting bracket swung to loweredposition.

Figure 6 is a side elevation ofthe platenframe, showlng the platen 1n 2.position to lating operations, is apt to cause atwisting have the teethof its gears re-engage the teeth of the platen-rotating pinions.

Figure 7 is a rear elevation of the machine Figure 8 is a fragmentaryfront elevation, showing the denomination-seleetor and thedenominational jacks.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the improved webguide.

In a bookkeeping machine of the Underwood-Hanson type, a typewriter 11,having a frame 12, rests on a casing 13 of a computer, which iscontrolled by the numeralkeys of the typewriter, and the computercasing13 rests on a stand, comprising a top 14 and supporting posts or legs15.

The typewriter 11 comprises a platen 16 mounted on a platen-axle 17,which is rotatably supported in atraveling carriage 18. The carriage 18is supported at its rear on a rail 19 fixed on the typewriter-frame 12.Provision is made of brackets 20, attached to the rear of thetypewriter-frame 12, at eaclrside thereof, and carrying at their upperends a bar 21, on which may be supoprted one or more sets ofdenominational jacks 22 and a housing 23 for each set of such jacks. Atthe rear of each housing 23 a casing 24; for the usual thrust-rods (notshown) extends downwardly to the rear of the computer-casing 13 and isattached thereto.

The carriage 18 is provided at its rear with brackets 25 extendingrearwardly and outwardly, and having upwardly-extending ends, in whichare mounted a rod 26, along which a denomination-selector 27 may bemoved, and a notched rod 28 having its notches at letter-spacedistances, the denommation-selector being held in adjusted posi- ,tionsby engagement of a tooth 29 thereon in the notches of the rod 28. Whenthe carriage 18 is traveling through a:computing zone, a tappet 30,carried by the denomination-selector 27, engages successively theforward ends of the denominational jacks 22 and selects thedenominations in which digits are to be indexed. The computing mechanismand the den0mination-selecting mechanism, forming part thereof, may be,in general, similar to that disclosed in the patent to Richard M.Becker, No. 1,296,354, granted March 1, 1919.

Inasmuch as the present invention contemplates the use in a bookkeepingmachine of the features of a continuous billing machine, the axle 17 ofthe platen 16 is journaled in the ends 31 of a platen-displacing frame32, said ends being extended forwfardly and upwardly, and being pivotedby such extended portions upon stub-shafts 33, mounted on the frame ofthe carriage 18, at the front of, and considerably above, the normalposition of the platen-axle 17. The platenaxle 17 is provided at itsends with gears 3%, which mesh with broad pinions 35, pivoted on shortshafts 36 on the frame of the carriage 18. The broad-pinions also meshwithgears 37 similar tothe gears 34 and fixed on the innerends ofstub-shafts 38 journaled in the frame of the carriage 18. The plat-en16may be rotated by means of either of the finger-wheels 39 or by theusual line-spacing mechanism. When the webs, indicated in general by 10,are to be straightened under the platen to permit the withdrawal of theinterleaved carbon-sheets in the usual manner, the platen 16 is swungupwardly with the assistance of a counterbalance spring 33 about theshafts 33 to the position shown in Figure 1, the webs then being drawnforward and gaged by means of the usual gage 41, adjustable on thegagebar 42, mounted on a front paper-table 1 3 which forms'part of theplaten-displacing frame 32. Since the displacing frame 32 is not swungabout the axis of the stubshafts 36, on which the pinions 35 aremounted, it will be apparent that the gears 34: will be carried out ofmesh with the pinions 35 in the course of the displacing movement. Inorder to insure re-engagement so that the platen may be returned to itsnormal, lowered position, without opposition, the teeth of both thegears 34: and pinions 35 are made with sharp points. Yielding abutmentsor stops 1 10f rubber or other suitable material are mounted on thecarriage 18 to be engaged by stops 4141* on the platen-displacing frame32 for limiting the outward swinging movement thereof.

At the rear of the machine, provision is made of a carbon-carriage 45,mounted for movement toward and from the platen, upon a rearcarriage-extension or table 16 comprising a front member 47, secured byscrews 48 to brackets 49 extending rearwardly from the carriage 18, arear member 50 and .a plurality of connecting members 51 having on theupper sides thereof rails 52, with each one of which co-operate groovedrolls 53, mounted on the base-plate 5-1 of the carbon-carriage as. Thecarboncarri'age 45 may be moved to the rear by a handle in the usualmanner. This handle may be corrugated to increase its rigidity, as shownin Figure 1. To support and guide the rear carriage-extension -16 atitsrear end, provision is made of a guide-rail 56, mounted on a rearbracket 57 and extending parallel to the guide-rail 19. Each of themembers 51 has an angle-plate attached to it, having adowmvardly-extending portion, and each plate 58 carries a roller 59which rides upon the rail 56 and a guide 60 which partially embraces therail 56. For the purpose of preventing excessive swinging movement ofthe carriage, at the conclusion of a tabulating operation, andconsequently of preventing interference with the proper operation ol'the denomina tion -selecting mechanism, the plates-58am provided withlateral extensions 6l to lie to the rear of the ail. Theseextensions'are positioned to engage the "rail 56' when-the carriage hasbeen swung only a slight amount and in co-operation' with the guides tolimit'the swinging movement of the arriage and carriage-extension, theplate 58 at one side oi the carriage-extension and the guide 60 at theopposite side thereof having a tendency to bind the guide-rail 56between them when the carriage is swung.

' The bracket 57, upon which the rail 56-is mounted, comprises twoupwardly and rearwardly "inclincdbai's 62, pivotally mounted at theirlower ends upon a shaft 63, carried by lugs G l on the top 14 ot' thesupporting frame. The bars 62 are connected to each other by a cross-barand are detachably connected to the typewriter-frame'12 by rods (36,which are threaded into the typewriter frame at their forward ends, andwhich'receive in threaded sockets at their rear ends screws 67 to securethem tothe bars 62. \Vhen it is desired to reduce the size of themachine, for shipping or for" other purposes, the rearcarriage-extension 46 may be disconnected from the brackets 49 byremoviug the screwswltl. and may then he slid oti the guide-rail 56. Thesupporting rods 66 ot the bracket 57 may be quickly disconnected fromthe machineframe 12 and from the bracket 57, to permit the bracket to beswung down about the shaft (33 to the position indicated in Figure 5.

A bar 68 having a flat face 69 extends across the carriage 18 betweenthe brackets 49 and members 70, of novel construction, for guiding thework-webs 40 are adjustably mounted upon the bar 68. Each guiding member70 comprises upstanding legs 71 and 72 connected by a cross-bar 73 thelegs having holes T l therethrough of a shape to conform to the shape ofthe supporting bar (38. The legs 71 and 72 and the crossbar 73 are splitbeneath the holes 74, the arrangement being such that the legsresiliently grip the supporting bar 68 and yieldably resist movement ofthe guide 7 0 along the rod. The Hat portions of the supporting bar andot the holes in the legs of the guides prevent turning of the guidesupon the supporting bars.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, andportions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a front-strike web-typewriting machine, the combination of arevoluble platen, a carriage therefor, means at the introductory side ofthe platen and connected to said carriage to present a work-web to theplaten, a carbon-stripper movable along the web,

said platen normally far below theclevet of the web [at the introductoryside etthe platen, a platen-line-s nice wheel uponJsaid carriage, apinion mounted upon said can riage and connectedito the line-spaceWheel, said platen having upon its end agear normally meshing with saidpinion, and a platen-frame hinged upon said carriage to'. swing theplaten and platen-gear up away from said pinion and toa position abovethe straightened-out web, preparatory to stripping the carbons that areinterleaved with th'e'pl'i'es of web. I

2. In a front-strike web-typewriting' ma chine, the combination of arevoluble platen, a carriage theretior, means at the introductory sideof the platen andconnected to s'a t: carriage to present a work-web tothe platen, a carbon-stripper movable along the web, said platennormally far below the level of the web at the introductory side "of theplaten, a platen-line-space wheelupon' said cari 'iag-e, a pinionmounted upon-said ear ria ge" and connected to the line-space wheel,said platen having upon its was gearnor-- mally meshing with saidpinion, and a platen-frame hinged upon said carriage to swing the-platenand platen -gear up away from said pinion and to a positionflabove theSbIaiglrtcnmIl OUt web, preparatory to"' stripping the carbons that 3are interleaved with the plies of web, said platen being free: 1revoluble when disconnected from said pinion. and said gear and pinionhaving pointed teeth to avoid clashing and to in sure easy meshing ofthe gear with the pinion when the platen is lowered to typing position.a

3. In a tront-strike web-typewriting machine, the combination of arevoluble platen, a carriage therefor, means at the introductory side ofthe platen and connected to said carriage to present a work-web to theplaten, a carbonstripper movable along the web, said platen normally farbelow the level of the web at the introductory side of the platen, aplaten-line-space wheel upon said carriage, a pinion mounted upon saidcarriage and connected to the line-space wheel, said platen having uponits end a gear normally meshing with said pinion, and a platen-framehinged upon said carriage to swing the platen and platen-gear up awayfrom said pinion and to a position above the straightened-out web,preparatory to stripping the carbons that are interleaved with the pliesof web, said carriage having at its ends arms extending upwardly andforwardly above said pinion, and said platen-swinging frame havingupwardly and forwardly extending end members pivoted at their upper endsto the upper ends of said carriage arms.

4. In a front-strike web-typewriting machine, the combination of arevoluble platen,

a carriage-therefor, means-at the introductory side of the platen andconnected to said carriage topresent. awork-web tothe platen,acarbon-stripper movable along the web,-said platen normally far belowthe level of the web at the introductory side of the p1aten,aplaten-line-space wheel upon said carriage, a pinion mountedupon saidcarriage and connected to the line-space wheel, said platen having uponits end a gear normally meshing with said pinion, and-means for swingingthe platen away from the pinion about an axis which is above and beyondthe axis of the pinion to a position above the plane of thestraightened-out work-web, said vplane being substantially abovesaidpinion.

In a typewriting machine, a gage-supporting bar, and a side gage for aworksheet, said gage'comprising a cross-bar and two arms extendingperpendicularly from said cross-bar, said arms having holes there inthrough which the supporting bar may extend, said gage 11 ving a slotextending from said holes through said arms and said cross-bar to enablethe gage to be sprung onto and grip the supporting bar.

6. In a typewriting machine,fthe combination of acarriage, a'tableextending rear wardly from said carriage, means comprising a guide-railto'support said table, tabulating mechanism for said carriage,carriage-supporting devices embracing said guide- "ail, andrail-engaging projections extending a considerable distance lengthwiseof said rail from said carriage-supporting devices, to prevent excessivelateral overthrowof the rear end of said table when the carriageisarrested at the tabulating opera- 'tion.

7. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage, a tableextending rearwardly from said carriage, a guide-rail to support andguide said table, tabulating mechanism for said carriage, and elongateddevices on the table adjacent the guide-trail and movable intofrictional engagement therewith when the table is swung away from normalposition, to oppose such swinging movement.

8. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage, a rearextension thereof, a guide-rail to support and guide thecarriageextension, tabulating mechanism for said carriage, and meansineffective to retard the travel of said carriage-extension buteffective to damp the lateral swinging movements of thecarriage-extension at the conclusion of tabulating operations to bringit quickly torest.

' VILLIAM F. HELMOND.

